Motorists braced for tickets blitz

Double the number of traffic wardens will be pounding the streets of Wolverhampton within days as the council takes over responsibility from Monday of catching out motorists flouting parking laws.

Around 24,000 tickets are expected to be handed out over the next year by civic wardens. Up to 22 wardens could eventually be involved.

Currently there are eight full-time and three part-time wardens.

Parking attendants will issue penalty charge notices of £60 for breaking waiting restrictions or parking infringements, including overstaying at pay and displays, parking on double yellow lines and driving in bus lanes.

This will be reduced to £30 if paid within 14 days, and increased to £90 if not paid after 56 days.

It is estimated around 24,000 tickets could be issued during the first 12 months, raking in more than £530,000 for council coffers.

The new parking attendants will wear distinctive red and navy uniforms.

Sandwell Council manages the parking restrictions and enforcements in its borough after taking it over several years ago.

In Walsall and Stafford, parking is still covered by the police, with no decision yet made on transferral.

Plans were agreed last year to transfer responsibility in Dudley and Stourbridge to Dudley Council from April 2008.

Send us your views on the parking plans by emailing us here

Your views:

"I think that the Express & Star should highlight the fact that it is perfectly legal for a motorist to drive off whilst a council traffic warden is writing out their ticket, they are legally entitled to drive off before the ticket has been placed on their car, and therefore legally avoid the fine. This can ONLY be done with council traffic wardens. Of course, it would be more prudent for motorists to take note of local parking restrictions and avoid having to run to the car when they see a traffic warden. However, given the rise in traffic wardens literally hiding around corners and behind trees waiting for motorists to go over time limits by a minute, I feel that motorists should be informed about their legal rights to balance out the unfairness that we see with regards to parking in Wolverhampton." Shahzad"Another money making idea." KULLYMANGAT